Statement_of_Work_Amendment_0001.pdf

1264R418Q0003

FORESTWIDE PRESCRIPTIVE GRAZING

MARK TWAIN NATIONAL FOREST

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C.1. Introduction

The Mark Twain National Forest (also referred to as “Forest” or “Mark Twain”) has a requirement to enter into a Performance Based Service Contract (PBSC) for control of nonnative invasive forbs and shrubs and selected “invasive-like” native plants using goats.

C.2. Background

The Mark Twain National Forest administers approximately 1.5 million acres in southern Missouri. This constitutes approximately 10% of the forested land and 84% of the publicly owned forested land in Missouri. The Forest is composed of nine separate geographic units in 29 counties which span the state 200 miles east to west and 17 5 miles north to south. Private land parcels are scattered throughout the Forest boundaries. On average, Federal ownership within the boundaries of the National Forest is about 49%, and ranges from a low of 24% at Cedar Creek unit to a high of 71% at Doniphan/Eleven Point unit.

The Mark Twain has over 2,000 acres of open lands or pasture lands that have been acquired or created over time. The Mark Twain maintains approximately 1,300 (fluctuates annually based on demand) acres of pasture lands through haying permits issued to individual’s for the purposes of providing forage and maintenance of these hay fields. In addition, the Forest has old fallow fields that have been maintained in the past but have fallen into disrepair through the encroachment of native and non-native invasive woody shrubs and forbs such as blackberry, black locust, honeysuckles, spotted knapweed and Sericea Lespedeza. In addition the Forest has up to 40,000 acres of map infestations that include invasive forbs and shrubs which occupy rights of ways, woodlands and forest and old field habitats.

The Mark Twain would like to utilize goats to manage vegetation in these areas with the objective to eradicate, reduce, or contain invasive grasses, forbs and/or shrubs, thereby minimizing the threat to native plant communities, sensitive wildlife habitat, and the reducing the economic impact to public lands and adjacent landowners. The projects would emphasize control activities on invasive on native and nonnative plant species infestations but will also be used for general vegetation management. To accomplish this objective the Forest Service uses an integrated pest management (IPM) approach for native and non-native and invasive plant control activities as required by the Mark Twain National Forest Land Management Plan (Forest Plan) and in the Forest-wide Integrated Non-native and Invasive Environmental Impact Statement.

C.3. Scope of Work

The Contractor shall provide all goats, expertise, labor, supervision, services, materials, Page | 2 equipment, supplies, transportation and incidentals necessary to perform the required work, for which the desired outcome is in strict accordance with the standards of the contract. The PBSC- Statement of Work (SOW) shall consist of completing the ordered tasks to the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) required in Section C.14.

The awarded contract shall constitute the entire agreement including all terms and conditions applicable to the contract.

C.4. General Project Description

C.4.1 General Project Description and Specifications

This is part of a forest-wide project to control undesirable native and non-native invasive plants in a variety of settings. The following tasks will be awarded on individual task orders as projects are implemented across the forest.

Small Area Targeted Grazing – These treatment areas are generally small infestations of invasive shrubs and forbs such as kudzu, bush honeysuckle, multiflora rose, and autumn olive.

These treatment areas would generally be less than 20 acres and will require electric fencing and water. The individual task order will identify the treatment area and its invasive cover. The Contractor would be responsible for determining the number of goats required to reduce target specie(s) within the time frame identified the task order. Each task order may have more than one treatment unit included. Grazing duration between 1 to 3 months.

Large Area Prescriptive Grazing – These treatment units will occur on larger areas occupied by multiple target species such as Sericea lespedeza, blackberries, honeysuckles, and multiflora rose that have invaded old fields, rights of way, and other large open areas. The treatment area will generally range from 20 to 100 acres. Use of fences and/or herders would be required and would be determined by the contract based on the individual task order. Water may or may not be available. The duration of the treatment would range between 3 to 5 months depending on the size of the treatment units and the number of defoliation desired during the grazing season.

Each task order may have more than one treatment unit included.

Woody Shrub Understory Grazing – These treatment units will occur in woodland and forested areas where native and non-native understory trees, shrubs, and forbs need to be controlled and reduced in density. Treatment objectives range from fuel reduction to invasive species control. Targets species could include oak brush, maple, bush honeysuckles and autumn olive. Treatment units would range from 10 to 50 acres. Grazing duration would range between 1 to 3 months depending on treatment unit size and target species.

C.4.4 Recordkeeping

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The Contractor will maintain an accurate daily log record that will document daily activities.

C.6 Contract Award

Each contract will be awarded based on best value per the factors in Section M. The technical submission will include a draft Work Plan and Schedule. The draft work plan and schedule should include a start date, details on how the contractor will provide fencing and/or herding and water. Temporary animal handling facilities will be allowed (must be coordinated with the Forest Service) and described in the work plan. The Contractor shall demonstrate the ability to complete all tasks for completion of the work required by this Contract.

The Contractor will then submit a final site-specific Work Plan and Schedule for approval by the COR. The approved Work Plan and Schedule will indicate how the Contractor intends to meet the required Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) values, as referenced in the Quality Assurance Plan, as well as the contract specifications. The Work Schedule will provide dates of work for each Contract Line Item Number (CLIN) addressed in the contract, to include completion of all work before the required final date specified. The Contractor shall inform the COR of completion of each contract line item. The Work Plan for the awarded contract shall include any changes in values or proposed chemicals differing from the initial Work Plan, and the Contractor will inform the COR of any relevant changes to the technical specifications when performing work under the contract.

C.7 Inspections

The Contractor may set up the Work Plan and Schedule to include interim inspections or at the completion of the task order. Inspections may be requested upon completion of one or more sections of the project site and invoice for only those specific sections. Amendment 0001 4/23/2018. The Contractor shall complete the CLIN work according to the approved Work Schedule then request an inspection by the COR.

C.8 Invoicing

Invoicing is tied to successful inspection of work. The Contractor may only invoice after the COR has inspected the line item(s) work and the work is determined to have met the AQL. The daily log record shall be made available to the CO or COR or submitted with each invoice.

This applies to both interim and final payments.

Upon contractor request the COR will inspect the portions of the project site that the contractor will be invoicing for payment. Amendment 0001 4/23/2018.

C.9 Safety Plan

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The Contractor will provide a written safety plan that demonstrates how the contractor will ensure a safe work environment for themselves, their employees and the public at large. The safety plan should include: 1) Livestock containment and mitigation measure related to vehicle traffic, 2) documentation to substantiate that the Contractor has an ongoing safety training program, 3) documentation regarding any Occupation Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) actions/citations issued against the Contractor within the previous three (3) years, to include follow-up measures or remedies taken by the Contractor.

The same safety plan information is required of subcontractors.

C.10 ATV/UTV Use

Wet weather conditions may preclude the use of vehicles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), utility terrain vehicles (UTVs) or off-highway vehicles (OHVs) in off road areas along trails or fields for indefinite periods or possibly the entire area at certain times of the year. The COR will determine those conditions or locations that warrant cession of vehicle or ATV/UTV/OHV use.

Use of ATV/UTV/OHV Forest Service roads must be in compliance with Missouri State motor vehicle regulations (MSMVR). The appropriate county permits must be obtained in those counties in which work will be performed.

C.11 Technical Requirements and Specifications

C.12 Definitions:

1. Contracting Officer: A Forest Service employee with the authority to: enter into, administer, and terminate contracts, as well as issue determinations regarding such matters as claims.

2. Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR): A Forest Service employee that is appointed and officially designated by the Contracting Officer to assist the Contracting Officer with the technical matters related to contract administration. The COR will assist the Contracting Officer with surveillance of contractor performance.

3. Forest Service Inspector: A Forest Service employee designated by the Contracting Officer or COR to perform surveillance of contractor performance.

4. Acceptable Quality Level (AQL): A suitable level of conformance based on an established percentage of defects.

5. Quality Assurance: Those actions taken by the Forest Service to assure services meet specified requirements.

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6. Quality Control: Those actions taken by a Contractor to control the performance of services so that they meet the specified requirements.

7. Performance-Based Service Contract (PBSC): A contract which incorporates a results-oriented statement of work, describing the overall work to be accomplished (outcome/result), rather than explicitly describing how the tasks should be performed, to accomplish the work.

C.13 Performance Work Statement and Quality Assurance Plan Contract Line Item No. – Work Requirement

Task / Critical Sub-tasks

Quality Standards

Monitoring Method Determination

All Line Items

Contractor will determine the number of goats required to meet desired reduction of invasive cover.

At least 85% reduction in target species canopy cover

USDA Forest Service Cover Frequency Protocol (transect determined by project)

AQL determinations are made by the COR upon inspection of the work.

NOTES:

Inspection: The Forest Service considers passing inspections (interim or final) to be critical. The Forest Service strives for effective and efficient contract administration; one of way of promoting this is to limit the need for re-inspections. The Forest Service will use both fixed photo plots as well as cover frequency transects using Daubenmire cover class for target species that fall within the plot. Approximately, 50 points will be collected at each inspection. See Attachment Cover Frequency Field Guide. Amendment 0001 4/23/2018.

Contract Time: The duration of grazing is based on the stocking rate the contractor choices. The Forest Service objective is to manage target vegetation to a specified cover as stated in the task order. It is recommended that the contractor allows for a reasonable amount of time to meet those conditions. Amendment 0001 4/23/2018.